Houston Hall offers 11 beers on tap from the same makers, plus wine, cocktails and a full menu of American and Bavarian fare in a massive space that projects sports events and entertainment on the walls.
Tom Pagut

Trade winter blues for winter brews at these breweries, brewpubs and beer bars pairing local and Bavarian beers with hearty fare fit for the season. From Seattle to St. Louis, there's somewhere festive and fun to escape the cold and have a cold one. So whether you're watching a big game or fighting cabin fever, toast to communal tables and toasty atmospheres at these indoor beer halls across the country.

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Jenny Sokoloski of Columbus, Ohio, enjoys a craft beer at Eclipse Company Store while taking a break from riding the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in Ohio's Athens County. Four breweries and one cider house are located near the bike path, which has led to the recent creation of an organized ale trail called Brewed on the Bikeway.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

It all starts with a well-paved path. In this case, it’s the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, a 21-mile flat trail along an old railroad line that extends northwest alongside the Hocking River from Athens, Ohio, to Nelsonville, Ohio. The pathway is especially picturesque in the fall.
Joel Prince

The city of Athens, Ohio, is quite hilly, but the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is flat and provides a peaceful ride through the scenic countryside of Athens County. Sites include the Hocking River, Ohio University campus and Wayne National Forest. Pedaling the path offers a fun way to work off calories while traveling from one brewery to the next.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

The trail includes Jackie O’s Taproom and Production Brewery, which began in 2005, making it the oldest brewery in Athens, Ohio. Customers can purchase a flight of beers served on an Ohio-shaped board.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Locals gather at Jackie O’s for “Sunday Funday.” Captivating craft beers vary from a bourbon barrel-aged stout with coffee called Champion Ground, to a tart ale brewed with coriander and sea salt named Gose, to a wheat ale that’s fermented with local pawpaw fruit.
Joel Prince

Just off the bikeway, and seemingly smack dab in the middle of nowhere, is Little Fish Brewing Company. Opened in 2015, this hidden gem melds all the right ingredients for a splendid time – fine microbrews, good eats from a food truck, and lots of space to chill and soak up the scenery. The business gets bonus points for having wind-powered electricity.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Beau Nishimura, taproom manager at Little Fish Brewing Co. in Athens, Ohio, hands a beer to a customer. The beer-making process here starts with corn and spelt grown in Ohio. “Farmhouse ales and sours are close to our heart,” Nishimura says. “But we also have lagers, pilsners, stouts and wheats.”
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Cameron Fuller stands with beer in hand alongside Devil’s Kettle Brewing, which he opened in Athens, Ohio, in 2015. “I’m the story of a home brewer who got obsessed,” says Fuller, who serves 20 traditional English ales and German lagers on tap. His flagship is an imperial blonde called Spider Silk. “It’s light, but strong,” he says.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Head bartender Rio Ajamian pours a house-made cider at the West End Cider House, where unique varieties include a semisweet cider infused with lemon and ginger, bourbon barrel-aged cider, and a botanical made with rose hips, lemongrass and hibiscus.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

The Athens County courthouse on Court Street embodies the historic charm of uptown Athens, Ohio. Home to Ohio University, Athens is a bustling epicenter for academics, artists and foodies who’ve made this southeastern Ohio enclave a must-visit destination.
Joel Prince

Delve into the local food scene at Casa Nueva restaurant and cantina in Athens, Ohio. The worker-owned cooperative is dedicated to strengthening the community by promoting wholesome food and responsible business practices. Pictured here is the breakfast burrito wrapped in a house-made tortilla.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

For a bout of burlesque, head to O’Betty’s Red Hot in Athens, Ohio, for all-beef and vegetarian hot dogs served with lots of pizzazz. Dogs are named after exotic dancers such as Mata Hari and Salome. A hot dog museum rounds out the quirkiness.
Joel Prince

Another great source of nutrition and calories while on the bike trail is the Athens Farmers Market, held year round on Saturdays in a retail parking lot on East State Street. Here, baker Chloe Rothwell peddles pretzels and bagels made with Chomolungma beer from Jackie O’s Taproom and Production Brewery.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Uptown Athens offers more options for hungry riders. Choose a sandwich at the Bagel Street Deli, like the Larry David that comes with lox, cream cheese, capers, tomato and onion. Afterward, make art out of your tinfoil wrapper and add it to the wall gallery.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Begin or end Brewed on the Bikeway with a sweet treat from Fluff Bakery in Uptown Athens. Here, Danielle Wallette of Cleveland (left) holds a plate of red velvet whoopee pies, and Carly Willison of Carrollton, Ohio, holds cupcakes. The bakery offers creative comfort food with lots of vegan options, as well as local beers, if you’re still so inclined.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway ventures past some interesting sites, including a restored coal company town called Eclipse in an area known as The Plains, Ohio. Here you’ll find a stellar craft beer hall called the Eclipse Company Store, where folks gather for family game nights, pool tournaments and music on an outdoor stage under the stars.
Joel Prince

Jason Werner pours a German Weihenstephan, one of 35 beers on tap at the Eclipse Company Store, a beer hall that opened alongside the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in March. “We get a lot of people off the bike trail,” Werner says. “They’ve burned some calories and it’s a great excuse for people to rest and have a beer.”
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

The food menu at the Eclipse Company Store is as varied as the beer selection with such choices as locally raised, grass-fed beef burgers, homemade pierogis, breaded eggplant tots, and a garden burger topped with red baggage and pickled radish.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Tyler Sampson prepares a meal at 9 Tables in an area of Athens County called The Plains, Ohio, just off the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. “We seat nine tables at a time and close the restaurant after a fine, seven-course meal,” says Sampson, owner and head chef.
Joel Prince

A serving of mussels in white wine sauce is one of seven courses at 9 Tables. Other delicacies on the November menu include rosemary-potato soup, filet mignon with mustard cream sauce, and a flourless chocolate torte.
Joel Prince

Situated at the northernmost point of the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is the city of Nelsonville, Ohio. Founded in 1814, its history is rooted in coal, salt and clay, as seen in the star-patterned bricks embedded in the sidewalks. The bustling Historic Public Square is home to a restored opera house, art galleries, notable eateries and a new brewery.
Joel Prince

Fresh off the bike trail, Kate Mendenhall and Dave Plessinger of Cincinnati enjoy beers and takeout food at Multiple Brewing in Nelsonville, Ohio. The couple says they’ve been to all of the breweries on Brewed on the Bikeway. “It seems like more and more people are into the bike-and-beer movement,” says Plessinger, sporting a cycling T-shirt that reads “Life behind bars.”
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Husband-and-wife team Jason and Michelle Warren opened Multiple Brewing last year near the bike trail in Nelsonville, Ohio. “We make approachable, balanced American-style craft beers that aren’t overly hoppy,” says Jason, who’s the brewmaster at the 1,100-square-foot brewery.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

Coffee, comfort food and cookies can be found at FullBrooks Cafe in Nelsonville, Ohio’s Historic Public Square. Located in a historic hotel, FullBrooks boasts hospitality and serves as a gathering point in this tight-knit, artistic community.
Joel Prince

Also in Nelsonville’s Historic Public Square is Rhapsody, an upscale yet casual restaurant operated by students of the Hocking College culinary program. “We get people right off the bike trail coming in for dinner,” says server Jerome Wlodarczyk of Cleveland. Pictured here are plates of salmon and scallops served over a lobster bisque risotto.
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

No need to haul a bike to Athens, Ohio, to participate in Brewed on the Bikeway. Instead, visit one of several rental shops in the area including Black Diamond Bicycles in Eclipse, Ohio. The family-owned bike shop offers adult and kid bikes and pull-behind buggies for hour and day rentals.
Joel Prince

Rick Valentine of Athens Bicycle fits Jenny Sokoloski of Columbus, Ohio, for a bike to ride while experiencing Brewed on the Bikeway. The full-service bicycle shop is one of several spots on the trail to rent bikes. “People come from around Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to make a day of it,” says Valentine of the ale trail. “They ride, drink beer and eat. It’s been enormously popular.”
Wendy Pramik, for USA TODAY

A few standout brews include Copper, Southsideweiss, Capt Jack, and of course, seasonal Mecktoberfest — the brewery’s Märzen-style Oktoberfest beer crafted with Munich malt, hops and a yeast strain from the oldest brewery in the world. Order a flight to sample several beers in one sitting.
Jenn Rice, for USA TODAY

Its original location in NoDa (for North Davidson Street) serves as a space to brew small batch beers while the new location, which opened in 2015 on North Tryon Street, features a 60-barrel production system, a taproom, free brewery tours, a gorgeous outdoor area, food trucks, live music and more.
courtesy of NoDa Brewing Company

Local favorites also include Coco Loco Porter (with sinful sweet notes of coconut and chocolate), Jam Session Pale Ale and Ramble on Red -- a beer that owner Suzie Ford notes pairs well with any type of food). NoDajito, a mojito-style Belgian witbier, is a wildly popular summer seasonal.
Jenn Rice, for USA TODAY

Birdsong Brewing Co. specializes in high-quality craft beer that’s often lower in alcohol content, making the tasty brews exceptionally easy to drink. The majority of Birdsong’s production is draft beer to reduce its carbon footprint by a long shot thanks to reusable packaging (kegs).
courtesy of Birdsong Brewing Co.

Birdsong’s best-selling beers include Higher Ground (only on tap) and Paradise City Session IPA, and locals recommend Jalapeno Pale Ale. What started out as an experiment, adding fresh jalapenos to Free Will Pale Ale, quickly elevated into a cult-favorite beer, aptly named Jalapeno Pale Ale. Not to worry -- seeds are removed from the peppers so beer fanatics can enjoy the jalapeno flavor without the intense heat.
courtesy of Birdsong Brewing Co.

Each Thursday, referred to as THURsty THURsday, a new beer is released. This fall, try spicy St. Tuber Abbey Ale, which is made with 320 pounds of fresh sweet potatoes — a nod to North Carolina’s state vegetable. Request a free brewery tour via a form on the brewery's website.
courtesy of Birdsong Brewing Co.

Housed in an underground space built in 1912, The Cellar at Duckworth’s is a must on an beer trip to Charlotte, N.C. Peruse the daunting, but incredible beer selection on an iPad.
courtesy of The Cellar at Duckworth’s

Mouthwatering gastropub fare and 20 taps featuring many local brews aside, the vintage beer cellar contains more than 300 hard-to-find beers, including Left Hand Brewing Company’s 2009 Imperial Stout and beers from Chimay Brewery in Belgium.
courtesy of The Cellar at Duckworth’s

Start a day with a waffle-wich— chicken and waffles topped with creamy chicken salad — at Fud at Salud, and a coffee from Trade and Lore, before making your way up to the taproom a cold one.
Jenn Rice, for USA TODAY

With a name like Ass Clown Brewing Company, expect the unexpected. In Cornelius, N.C., a 15-minute car ride from Charlotte, the brewery features a 31-tap system and wildly unique beers that will “wack out your taste buds.”
Jenn Rice, for USA TODAY

In case you were wondering about the name, it’s a phrase that owner Matt Glidden uses often -- he says he didn’t want the name of the brewery to be taken too seriously. Pull up a barstool and order a flight (or two).
Jenn Rice, for USA TODAY

Hakuna Matata, a tropical-style IPA, is a popular year-round beer that pleases the palate with notes of mandarin orange, pineapple, grapefruit and elderflower, and Brown Sugar Brown Cow Mocha Brown Ale is not to be missed.
Jenn Rice, for USA TODAY

The real draw is D9’s experimental sour ales, like the Defying Gravity series of brews that go through three distinct fermentations. Cape Canaveral is the first run of this series and features notes of papaya, grapefruit and pineapple.
courtesy of D9 Brewing Company

Nothing pairs better with beer than a delicious hot dog, and JJ’s Red Hots is the place to be for craft dogs and seasonal beer on tap. During North Carolina Beer Month (in April), JJ’s Red Hots partners with local breweries for an annual Brew Dog Series.
courtesy of JJ’s Red Hots

Founded in 2000, Steam Whistle is located in an old rail yard, its entry dotted with abandoned rail cars. The uber-funky, industrial feel makes it especially popular for private events.
courtesy of Steam Whistle Brewing

Steam Whistle makes just one beer — Steam Whistle Premium Pilsener — with a dedicated focus on continually refining what many locals feel is the best Euro-style pilsener.
courtesy of Steam Whistle Brewing

Steam Whistle applies an employee-centric approach to operations, earning it recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies by 'Canadian Business' and 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital.
courtesy of Steam Whistle Brewing

Amsterdam produces classic beers and seasonals, including Blonde Lager, its flagship brand; 3-Speed Lager, which is aged for 26 days; and Boneshaker IPA, a super-hoppy IPA with hints of grapefruit and pine.
courtesy of Amsterdam BrewHouse

Bellwoods has earned national and international recognition for its beers, including Top 100 Brewers in the World (RateBeer), and Best Brewpub in Ontario and Most Innovative Brewery (2016 Golden Tap Awards).
courtesy of Bellwoods Brewery

Bellwoods offers a diverse menu of seasonal foods, prepared by a chef who favors local suppliers. The smoked bratwurst bathed in caramelized onions is one of the more popular offerings, as is strawberry/rhubarb olive oil cake for dessert.
Celine Kim Photography

Left Field Brewery is a popular destination in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood, a gathering spot for the area’s young families and their dogs. (Yes, the brewery is dog-friendly.)
courtesy of Left Field Brewery

Founded in 2013 by Mark and Mandie Murphy, the brewery produces more than 20 different beers each year. The Murphy’s brew American-style ales, including IPAs, pale ales, brown ales and kettle sours.
courtesy of Left Field Brewery

Founded in 2012, Indie pursues an aggressive production schedule, brewing more than 100 beers to date. With a focus on brewing strong, flavorful beers — a good mix of IPAs, sours, farmhouse ales and Belgian-style beers — owner Jason Fisher says, “No lagers!”
Lucas Scarfone, courtesy of Indie Ale House

Indie’s tap offerings rotate frequently and are prominently posted in its brewpub. The popular Dead Spadina Monkey Sour, recently named Beer of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards, is barrel aged with hints of cherry, raspberry, pineapple and apricot.
Lucas Scarfone, courtesy of Indie Ale House

Don’t overlook Indie’s traditional pub-style offerings, an assortment of high-quality fried chicken, burgers, pizza and more that pairs exceptionally well with its beers. Indie does not offer public tours, though visitors are encouraged to stop in its retail shop for IAH branded merchandise and of course beers.
courtesy of Indie Ale House

An intimate taproom attracts a steady stream of locals, along with travelers, who make the quick trip from the airport to sample its rotating portfolio of beers. A knowledgeable taproom staff guides visitors through popular beer flights, pointing out flavor notes and brewing styles.
courtesy of Great Lakes Brewery

A new bottling line makes it impractical for Great Lakes to offer public tours, though a new outdoor patio more than compensates for those wishing to linger and savor the brews made onsite.
courtesy of Great Lakes Brewery

Even 30 years after its founding, Great Lakes continues to earn praise from industry professionals. It was named the Canadian Brewer of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards in 2013 and 2014, and the Best Brewery in Ontario at the Golden Tap Awards from 2014 to 2016.
Jerry Soverinsky, for USA TODAY